By Na Jeong-ju
The descendants of Yonsei University’s founder Horace G. Underwood have criticized the school’s board for its recent decision to deprive the country’s leading Christian groups of rights to nominate some board members.
Churches are urging the board, chaired by Bang Woo-young, honorary chairman of the conservative daily Chosun Ilbo, to nullify the decision and stop what they called a move to “privatize” the school. They also demanded an immediate withdrawal of Bang from the position of board chairman.
Last month, the board approved a revision of school articles regarding the make-up of the board to give the chairman more power in selecting board members.
Under the revision, the chairman would pick three of the 12 board members. Church organizations had nominated four members, but they will no longer be able to take part.
The rest of the seats would be picked from nominations by the university’s alumni association and among “socially-respected” figures who graduated from the school.
“The Underwood family is very concerned about the abrupt changes to the constitution of Yonsei University, in particular with respect to the make-up of the board,” the family said in a statement, released Monday.
“The constitution must continue to ensure that Yonsei cannot be controlled by a few individuals, but will remain a testament to the glory of the university’s true founder and owner, the Lord Jesus Christ.”
The statement was signed by Richard F. Underwood, Horace H. Underwood and Peter A. Underwood, all descendants of Horace G. Underwood, who founded the school in 1885 as a Presbyterian missionary.
Peter A. Underwood, a great-grandson of the founder, held a press conference in front of his statue in the school Monday to denounce the board’s decision.
“Hundreds of missionaries came to Korea to promote Christianity. They created many institutions like Yonsei and Severance that have become the bedrock of Korean education and health care,” the statement said. “The Underwood family calls on Yonsei to preserve the spirit under which the university and the hospital were established.”
Yonsei officials refused to comment on the dispute, but a Bang aide said any decisions regarding the change of school regulations are up to the board. The aide said there was no need to consult with the Underwood family before the revision was adopted at a board meeting last month.
“That’s not an issue the board had to discuss with the Underwood family. The decision was made in full accordance with the existing rules,” the aide told The Korea Times.
However, Christian groups disagree. Some groups vowed to take legal action to nullify the board’s decision and launch a drive to oust the chairman.
“Chairman Bang has refused to appoint board members nominated by church organizations for the past three years. The revision was passed by Bang and board members who are close to him,” a spokesman for the National Council for Churches in Korea (NCCK) said.
“The board didn’t even give any prior notice about the change of rules before the meeting was held last month. It’s shocking to the entire Christian community.”
The spokesman said the council is discussing with some alumni groups to counter what he described as an evil attempt to steal the university.
The NCCK will hold an emergency meeting on Nov. 28 to discuss the matter, he said.